Sanitary fitting for dispensing prepared liquids

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a sanitary fitting for dispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages. A disclosed system includes a first control element for setting a quantity of the prepared liquid to be dispensed and an actuating element for providing the quantity of prepared liquid set by means of the first control element, wherein at least one second control element is configured to select a type of preparation, for example, from at least two different types of preparation, of non-prepared liquid, wherein the first and the at least one second control element are actuatable independently of one another.

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102019 210 435.5, filed Jul. 15, 2019, the entire contents of which isincorporated herein by reference.

This disclosure relates to a sanitary fitting for dispensing preparedliquids, for example, for beverages, comprising a first control elementfor setting the quantity of the prepared liquid to be dispensed and anactuating element for providing the quantity of prepared liquid set bymeans of the first control element.

The disclosure furthermore relates to a sanitary system for providingand dispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages.

The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for providing anddispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages.

Sanitary fittings have become known in greatly varying ways. Knownsanitary fittings comprise, for example, a fitting body having at leastone control element for setting at least one property of a fluid streamconducted through the sanitary fitting. The property can be, forexample, the flow rate of the fluid stream or the temperature of thefluid stream. In known sanitary fittings, the fluid stream is mixed froma separate cold water stream and hot water stream by means of a mixingtap and conducted from there to an outlet.

To enhance the functionality, a sanitary fitting has become known, forexample, from DE 10 2013 000 773 A1 or DE 10 2013 002 236 A1, having atleast one first actuating element for setting the temperature and/orquantity of mixed water and having at least one second actuating elementfor setting the quantity of hot water. The second actuating element,which allows setting of the quantity of hot water, is formed in thiscase as a rotary selector switch. It firstly has to be rotated in afirst direction to activate the hot water function. Subsequently, it hasto be rotated in the direction opposite to the first direction to setthe desired quantity of hot water.

It is disadvantageous in this case that the operation of the secondactuating element is cumbersome and complex. At the same time, theflexibility with respect to providing different prepared fluid streamsis significantly restricted.

One object of the disclosure is therefore to provide a sanitary fittingfor dispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages, and acorresponding sanitary system which allow simple operability, a highlevel of flexibility, and cost-effective implementation.

A further object of the disclosure is to provide a method for providingand dispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages, which is tobe carried out simply and cost-effectively and allows a high level offlexibility.

A further object of the disclosure is to provide an alternative sanitaryfitting, an alternative sanitary system, and an alternative method forproviding and dispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages.

This disclosure achieves the objects in one embodiment using a sanitaryfitting for dispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages,comprising a first control element for setting the quantity of theprepared liquid to be dispensed and an actuating element for providingthe quantity of prepared liquid set by means of the first controlelement, in that at least one second control element is arranged forselecting a type of preparation, for example, from at least twodifferent types of preparation, of non-prepared liquid, wherein thefirst and the at least one second control element are actuatableindependently of one another.

The disclosure achieves the objects in a further embodiment using asanitary system for providing prepared liquids, for example, forbeverages, comprising a sanitary fitting as claimed in any one of claims1 to 10 and 16 to 22, a preparation device, which is connected to thesanitary fitting for providing prepared liquid, and a control device,which is connected, on the one hand, to the sanitary fitting and, on theother hand, to the preparation device, for controlling the sanitaryfitting and the preparation device.

The disclosure achieves the objects in a further embodiment using amethod for providing and dispensing prepared liquid, for example, water,for beverages using a sanitary fitting according to any one of claims 1to 10 and 16 to 22, comprising the following stages

setting a quantity of prepared liquid to be dispensed by means of thefirst control element,

providing or setting at least one type of preparation, for example,selected from at least two different types of preparation, ofnon-prepared liquid by means of the at least one second control element,

actuating the actuating element,

dispensing prepared liquid and a neutral liquid, for example,non-prepared liquid, in such a way that before reaching the setquantity, exclusively neutral liquid is provided for dispensing and isdispensed, and the dispensing is stopped upon reaching the set quantity,

wherein after complete dispensing, the set quantity of prepared liquidhas been dispensed in the set quantity and type of preparation.

The disclosure achieves the objects in a further embodiment by way of acontrol device for a sanitary fitting, wherein the control device isconfigured to transmit at least one signal to dispense a set quantity ofliquid in a selected type of preparation to the sanitary fitting, insuch a way that

before reaching the complete dispensing of the set quantity, exclusivelya neutral liquid, for example, non-prepared liquid, is dispensed bymeans of the sanitary fitting, and

after complete dispensing of the set quantity by means of the sanitaryfitting, the dispensing is stopped,

so that after complete dispensing of the set quantity, prepared liquidhas been dispensed in the set quantity and type of preparation by meansof the sanitary fitting.

The term “prepared liquid” is to be understood in the broadest meaningand refers for example, in the claims, to liquids, for example water inthe form of tap water from a water supplier or the like, which isadditionally changed in its properties and/or in its composition by aseparate device. Thus, for example, prepared water can have a hightemperature, so-called very hot water, a different degree ofcarbonization, a partially different composition, or the like than wateroriginally provided by the water supplier. The term “prepared liquid” isnot to be understood as hot or cold water which is typically providedfrom a water supplier to a single-family house, multifamily house, orthe like and is possibly modified in its temperature via a heater or thelike.

The term “neutral liquid” is to be understood in the broadest meaningand refers for example, in the claims, to liquids which, at leastsensorially, for example, with respect to taste or smell, have virtuallyno effects on the prepared liquid. For example, the neutral liquid canbe unfiltered or filtered water.

The term “type of preparation” is to be understood in the broadestmeaning and refers for example, in the claims, not only to thefundamental type of the preparation of a liquid, for example, whetherthe water has been carbonated or not, but rather also the degree, theintensity, or the concentration of the preparation, for example, theintensity of the carbonization. Different types of preparation are thusto be understood, for example, as different degrees of carbonization,for example, “still”, “medium”, or “classic”. Different types ofpreparation are also to be understood as different temperatures of veryhot water, water filtered to varying degrees, different concentrationsof flavor additives and/or flavors, different types of mineralizationand the different concentrations thereof and of different concentrationsof the same type of mineralization or the like. The term “type ofpreparation” also includes “non-preparation”.

One of the advantages thus achieved is that the operability andflexibility are thus substantially improved. A further advantage is thatsimple and cost-effective implementation and/or simple andcost-effective performance is provided.

Further features, advantages, and further embodiments of the disclosureare described hereafter or thus become obvious.

According to one advantageous refinement, a first display device isarranged, which is configured to display at least two different types ofpreparation. This improves the operability of the sanitary fitting withhigher flexibility in the selection of various types of preparation atthe same time.

According to a further advantageous refinement, a second display deviceis arranged, which is configured to display at least one operating stateand/or at least one type of preparation of the sanitary fitting. Theoperability of the sanitary fitting is thus also improved, in otherwords, incorrect operations are reduced.

According to a further advantageous refinement, at least one displaydevice is configured for visual and/or acoustic display. In addition toenhancing the operability, this also enhances the flexibility, since avariety of different operating states and/or types of preparation can bedisplayed by various visual and/or acoustic signals.

According to a further advantageous refinement, at least one displaydevice and/or at least one of the control elements is formedring-shaped. In addition to a high level of visual impression and betterperceptibility by a user of the sanitary fitting, the operability isthus also improved.

According to a further advantageous refinement, at least three visuallydifferent displays can be provided by means of the at least one displaydevice, which is configured for the visual display. A variety ofpossible operating states or types of preparation can thus be displayedin a simple manner.

According to a further advantageous refinement, two display devices arearranged, which are arranged on axially different sides of the firstcontrol element. The perceptibility is thus also improved, since a userof the sanitary fitting, when actuating the first control element, canperceive a display by the two display devices directly andsimultaneously. Due to the display devices arranged on different sidesof the first control element, a confusion is nearly precluded even inthe case of identical visual signals, for example, for the types ofpreparation, on the one hand, and the operating state, on the otherhand.

According to a further advantageous refinement, the actuating element isactuatable by means of touching and/or pressing or contactlessly, forexample, the actuating element is configured to recognize gestures. Anactuation of the actuating element is thus possible in a flexiblemanner. The advantage of an actuation by means of touch is that, forexample, pleasant haptics during the actuation can be provided for auser of the sanitary fitting. The advantage of an actuation by means ofpressure is a direct feedback about the completed actuation by a userand the advantage of a contactless actuation of the actuating element isthat soiling of the actuating element is nearly precluded. If theactuating element can recognize gestures, undesired actuation is furtherreduced, since only defined and recognized gestures allow an actuationof the actuating element. An actuation of the actuating element by meansof touch is also to be understood for example, as a pressure actuationof a button.

According to a further advantageous refinement, the actuating elementcomprises a circular surface, for example, a point, for actuation. Inaddition to a harmonious and visually high-quality impression, a simpleoperability is provided if the actuating element is configured in theform of a circular button, point, or the like.

According to a further advantageous refinement, a single-lever mixingtap is arranged for dispensing non-prepared hot and cold water. Thisallows a provision of a mixture of hot and cold water in a simple andconvenient manner.

According to a further advantageous refinement, at least two separateoutlets are arranged, wherein at least one of the outlets is exclusivelyconfigured to dispense the non-prepared hot and cold water and whereinthe at least one further outlet is configured to dispense the preparedliquid. The advantage of the separate outlets is that thussimultaneously, for example, cold water can be provided at the firstoutlet and prepared water can be provided at the second outletindependently of one another. The separation of the two outlets is alsoadvantageous for hygienic reasons, for example, because of residualwater.

According to a further advantageous refinement, the at least two outletsare arranged spaced apart from one another. This minimizes the abilityto confuse the two outlets and enhances the flexibility at the sametime, since both outlets can be used in a simple manner.

According to a further advantageous refinement, at least one of theoutlets is movably arranged and comprises a detachable locking device,which is configured to detachably fix the outlet on element of thesanitary fitting, for example, by a magnetic force. One of theadvantages thus achieved is simple and simultaneously flexibleoperability of the sanitary fitting. For example, a pivot of the outletor a change of the height of the outlet is thus possible with simpledetachability and/or fixing capability of the outlet.

According to a further advantageous refinement, the first and the atleast one second control element are each actuatable by application of arotational movement and the second control element is additionallyactuatable using an axial movement. A simple operability of the twocontrol elements with high flexibility with respect to different typesof actuation of the control elements at the same time is thus provided.

According to a further advantageous refinement, the at least one secondcontrol element comprises at least two, for example, four, defineddetent positions during a rotational movement. Tactile feedback is thusprovided for a user of the sanitary fitting, so that inaccurate,error-prone operation of the sanitary fitting is reduced; theprobability of inadvertent actuation is reduced.

According to a further advantageous refinement, multiple second controlelements are arranged, which are actuatable independently of oneanother. This enhances the flexibility of the sanitary fitting in theselection and provision of different types of prepared water.

According to a further advantageous refinement of the sanitary system,the preparation device comprises at least one of the following devices:filter device, heating device, storage device, concentration device,carbonization device, cooling device. A variety of possible types ofpreparation can thus be provided for the liquid. Different preparedliquids can also be stored, so that more rapid dispensing takes placewhen the respective prepared liquid is selected again.

According to a further advantageous refinement of the sanitary system, aflow rate meter is arranged for measuring the flow rate of the liquid,for example, the flow rate of water, through the preparation device. Theadvantage of this is that, for example, an exact provision of thequantity of prepared water is provided.

According to a further advantageous refinement of the sanitary system,the control device is connected to the flow rate meter and is configuredto compute a service life of an element of the preparation device on thebasis of the measured flow rate and to display the service life by atleast one of the display devices of the sanitary fitting. This increasesthe reliability of the sanitary system since, for example, filters ofthe filter device can be replaced in a timely manner, so that reliablefiltration of the liquid, for example, water, is provided at all times.

According to a further advantageous refinement of the sanitary system,the filter device is connected to the sanitary fitting via a first valvecontrollable by the control device and the storage device is connectedto the sanitary fitting via a second valve controllable by the controldevice. By use of the controllable valves, for example, prepared watercan be provided by use of the filter device or from the storage devicein a simple manner.

According to a further advantageous refinement, at least one of thevalves is configured as a solenoid valve. This allows simple and rapidand also reliable actuation of the respective valve.

According to a further advantageous refinement of the method, theprepared liquid is dispensed for a settable time span after actuation ofthe actuating element. This enhances the operating convenience for auser of the sanitary fitting, since he only has to trigger the actuationusing one finger, for example, and can then use both hands to fill upprepared water. A further advantage is that the prepared liquid isacquirable based on the set quantity, wherein this quantity is thenascertained by the measurement of a flow rate.

According to a further advantageous refinement of the method, uponfurther actuation of the actuating element during the dispensing of theprepared liquid, the dispensing is at least interrupted, for example,stopped. On the one hand, the liquid consumption can thus be reduced if,for example, only a small quantity is required, on the other hand, forexample, for specific functions, a rapid shutdown of the dispensing ofthe prepared liquid can be provided.

According to a further advantageous refinement, at least one of thefollowing types of preparation is provided: very hot water, filteredwater, carbonated water, chilled water, water admixed with concentrate.A variety of possible types of preparation for water can thus beprovided.

According to a further advantageous refinement of the method, the typeof preparation is selected by rotating and axially moving the at leastone control element from an axial idle position, for example, against arestoring force. The advantage of this is that the types of preparationcan thus be selected in a reliable manner for dispensing correspondinglyprepared liquid.

According to a further advantageous refinement, after the selection ofat least one type of preparation, the at least one positioning elementreturns into its axial idle position, for example, by a spring force. Auniform starting position of the second control element for a variety ofselection options is thus provided to the user; the operation is thussimplified as a whole.

According to a further advantageous refinement, the type of preparationvery hot water is displayed by at least one of the display devices ofthe sanitary fitting. The advantage of this is that the risk of anincorrect operation in the case of very hot water and/or inadvertentdispensing of very hot water by user is thus reduced.

Further important features and advantages of the disclosure result fromthe dependent claims, from the drawings, and from the associateddescription of the figures on the basis of the drawings.

It is obvious that the above-mentioned features and the features to beexplained hereafter are usable not only in the respective specifiedcombination, but rather also in other combinations or alone, withoutleaving the scope of the disclosure.

Example embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated in the drawingsand will be explained in greater detail in the following description,wherein identical reference signs refer to identical or similar orfunctionally identical components or elements.

In the figures

FIG. 1 shows a sanitary fitting in a three-dimensional view according toone embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional detail of the sanitary fittingaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an axial top view of a control element device of thesanitary fitting according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a sanitary system according to one embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a control device for a sanitary system according to FIG. 4in schematic form;

FIG. 6 shows a method for providing and dispensing prepared liquids,water, according to one embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional detail of a sanitary fitting accordingto one embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a sanitary fitting according toone embodiment of the disclosure.

A sanitary fitting 1 for kitchens is shown in detail in FIG. 1. Thesanitary fitting 1 is part of a sanitary system 200 of FIGS. 4 and 5. Inthis case, the sanitary fitting 1 comprises a cylindrical fitting body2, on which a control element device 3 a, 3 b is situated in each caseon different sides of the fitting body 2 perpendicularly to the cylinderaxis, i.e., along the axis A. In this case, the first control elementdevice 3 a is used to set a mixed water temperature and a flow rate ofmixed water based on non-prepared hot and cold water. The first controlelement device 3 a comprises for this purpose a single-lever mixing tap8. A quantity and a type of preparation for non-prepared water can beset and dispensing of the prepared quantity of water can be triggered bythe second control element device 3 b, which is described in greaterdetail in following FIGS. 2, 3, and 7.

Furthermore, a water outlet 5, to which mixed water can be applied, ispivotably arranged on the fitting body 2 via an outlet arm 4. Moreover,the water outlet 5 is connected via a detachable connection 56 to aholding arm 6, wherein the holding arm 6 is in turn pivotably arrangedon the fitting body 2 in parallel to the cylinder axis of the fittingbody 2. The detachable connection 56 can be produced, for example, by amagnetic force. A further water outlet 7 is arranged on the lower sideof the holding arm 6, via which prepared water, which can be set by thesecond control element device 3 b, can be dispensed.

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional detail of the sanitary fittingaccording to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 shows an axial top view of a controlelement device of the sanitary fitting of FIG. 2.

The second control element device 3 b is shown in detail in FIG. 2. Thesecond control element device 3 b comprises a first control element 300in the form of a ring rotatable around an axis A, which is arrangedperpendicularly to the axis of the cylindrical fitting body 2. The firstcontrol element 300 is used for setting the quantity of the desiredquantity of prepared water and is inscribed here with a numeric scalefor the desired quantity in the device milliliters, here “100”, “200”,“300”, “500”, “750”, and “0”. The scale is embodied as nonlinear here,but can also be embodied as linear in a further embodiment. In addition,other or modified scales can also be used.

A marking 303 which, on the one hand, permits an assignment of the setquantity by the first control element 300, is arranged along the axis Ain FIG. 2 on the right adjacent to the first control element 300. On theother hand, the marking 303 is formed as a second display deviceadjacent to a first display device 301. The first display device 301 isarranged on the left side of the first control element 300 and isembodied as ring-shaped. Various color representations can be displayedby the first display device 301, for example, at least the colors red,white, green, yellow, and/or orange or the like. Various lighted colorscan also be displayed by the second display device 303, in particular,the colors red and blue. Each of the two display devices 301, 303 canalso display the color intermittently, in other words provide flashingin the respective color. The display devices 301, 303 can alternativelyor additionally also provide acoustic signals, for example, anintermittent beeping or the like.

Furthermore, the second control element device 3 b comprises a secondcontrol element 302, which is also formed ring-shaped and is arranged onthe left adjacent to the first display device 301. The second controlelement 302 has ribbing on its outer circumference for better graspingby a user. On the one hand, the second control element 302 is rotatablyformed having rotational directions R3, R4 around the axis A, on theother hand, it is also movably arranged in the axial direction R1, R2along the axis A. On the face of the second control element 302perpendicular to the axis A, a circular surface 304 having a triggeringpoint 304′ is arranged, which is used to trigger an actuating element305. The dispensing of prepared water is triggered by the actuatingelement 305. The second control element 302 can be brought into fourdifferent detent positions P1, P2, P3, P4 by rotation in the directionR4. A rotation in the opposing direction R3 can be permitted, but it canalso not be permitted, so that a user can only rotate the second controlelement 302 further in the direction R4.

The different positions P1, P2, P3, and P4, which are arranged offset inrelation to one another circumferentially at 90° angles, are shown inthe top view according to FIG. 3. As already stated, the actuatingelement 305 having the circular surface 304, which comprises thetriggering point 304′, is arranged on the end face. The actuatingelement 305 can be configured to be actuatable contactlessly or bytouching the triggering point 304′ in this case. The actuating element305 can be configured in the form of an infrared sensor in this case, sothat upon touching the triggering point 304′ of the surface 304, theactuating element 305 is triggered.

The operation of the sanitary fitting 1 will now be explained in detail.For this purpose, the sanitary fitting 1 is firstly in the idlestate/standby mode. In this case, an arbitrary quantity is set by thefirst control element 300, but no prepared water is dispensed. Thesecond display device 303 then lights up blue, for example, the firstdisplay device 301 does not light up, and the triggering point 304′ isactive, i.e., upon a corresponding touch, the actuating element 305 istriggered.

The sanitary fitting 1 is in the so-called cleaning mode when thequantity “0” is set by the first control element. Both display devices301, 303 do not light up and the triggering point 304′ is then switchedoff or is not active. Incorrect operations during the cleaning are thusavoided. The cleaning mode can be configured, on the one hand, so thatinadvertent water dispensing, whether prepared water and/or non-preparedwater, is not possible, for example, to be able to clean the sanitaryfitting 1 from the outside by wiping or the like. On the other hand,alternatively or additionally the cleaning mode can also triggertargeted conduction through of a specific cleaning liquid, for example,for descaling or the like.

To dispense prepared water, in the form of filtered water here, thefirst control element 300 is set to a number, i.e., a defined quantityof filtered water is to be dispensed. The second display device 303 thenlights up blue, the first display device 301 does not light up. Thequantity can accordingly now be adjusted or set again. By placing afinger on the triggering point 304′, for example, the actuating element305 is triggered and initiates the dispensing of the desired quantity offiltered water. In this case, the second display device 303 flashesblue, the first display device 301 does not light up. The dispensing ofthe prepared water can be stopped prematurely by further actuation ofthe triggering point 304′ of the actuating element 305.

Proceeding from the idle state/standby mode, the following stages arecarried out to dispense and/or tap prepared water in the form of veryhot water. Firstly, the first control element 300 is set to an arbitrarynumber, which can correspond to the quantity of very hot water to bedispensed. In this case, the second display device 303 firstly lights upblue, the first display device 301 does not light up. Subsequently, thesecond control element 302 is pressed in the axial direction R1, i.e.,in the direction toward the first display device 301. The second controlelement 302 is then rotated in the pressed state in the direction R4 orin the direction R3 from a first detent position Pl, P2, P3, P4 into anext detent position P2, P3, P4, Pl. The second control element 302 issubsequently released, wherein the second control element 302 moves backinto its axial starting position in the direction R2. The second displaydevice 303 now lights up red, as does the first display device 301. Thevery hot water function of the sanitary fitting 1 is now activated,wherein the quantity of very hot water to be set can still be changed.The desired quantity of boiling hot water can be tapped by actuating theactuating element 305, for example, by laying a finger on the triggeringpoint 304′. It is sufficient for this purpose to lay the finger brieflyon the triggering point 304′ of the actuating element 305 to tap thedesired quantity of very hot water. In other words, after the triggeringof the actuating element 305, it no longer has to be touched. During thedispensing, the second display device 303 then flashes red and the firstdisplay device 301 flashes red to indicate the dispensing of very hotwater.

The very hot water function is activated for a specific time span, forexample, for 8 or 10 seconds, after the second control element 302 isback in its axial idle position. During this first time span, very hotwater can be tapped by triggering the actuating element 305. If theactuating element 305 is not actuated during this time span, thesanitary fitting 1 returns back into the idle mode/standby mode.

If the actuating element 305 was activated during the mentioned firsttime span, in other words, very hot water was thus tapped, the seconddisplay device 303 lights up red for a second time span, while incontrast the first display device 301 no longer lights up. Thisindicates to a user of the sanitary fitting 1 that very hot water isstill ready to be dispensed in the corresponding line. After passage ofthe second time span, the very hot water has cooled and the sanitaryfitting 1 switches into the idle mode/standby mode, i.e., the seconddisplay device 303 then lights up blue again. For example, the durationof the second time span can be 5, 10, or 15 minutes.

During the second time span, other types of preparation and/or thedispensing of water prepared in another way besides very hot water arenot possible. If the actuating element 305 is triggered within thesecond time span, this is visually displayed by the second displaydevice 303, for example, by flashing red multiple times, for example,five times. In addition, the first display device 301 also flashes redmultiple times, for example, corresponding to the second display device303. Dispensing of very hot water does not take place however. Only whenthe actuating element 305 is actuated again after the correspondingdisplay by the first display device 301 and by the second display device303 can prepared water then be tapped in a type of preparation otherthan very hot water, which is then dispensed for example, after the veryhot water which is still located in the feeds to the respective outlet.

During the dispensing of very hot water, its dispensing can beinterrupted at any time by moving, more precisely pressing, the secondcontrol element 302 in the axial direction R1. The dispensing can alsobe interrupted by actuating the actuating element 305 and continuedagain by further actuation.

If interruption of the dispensing of very hot water does not occur, thedispensing of hot water can also take place as follows: if, for example,500 mL very hot water are to be dispensed, and if, for example, thevolume in the line of a very hot water provision device such as a boileror the like is 30 mL, firstly 30 mL cold water is dispensed, followed byhot water from the boiler, the temperature of which is above the desiredtemperature, but upon mixing with the 30 mL cold water after dispensingof 470 mL very hot water above the desired temperature, 500 mL very hotwater of the desired temperature results. The very hot water isdispensed in this case so that after dispensing of the 500 mL, coldwater is provided again at the water outlet 7.

Proceeding from the idle mode/standby mode, when dispensing filteredwater, the second display device 303 can provide an indication inaccordance with the filter usage, for example, by green flashing, whichdisplays the incorrect function of the filter. Therefore, if theactuating element 305 is actuated and prepared water, for example,filtered water is provided, the second display device 303 flashes green,for example, so that it is displayed to a user of the sanitary fitting 1that the filter cartridge has to be replaced. When dispensing very hotwater, a properly operating filter can be indicated by alternateflashing in the colors green and red of the second display device 303.It can also be indicated by another color of the second display device303 that the capacity of the filter is exhausted, in other words it hasto be replaced. If filtered water is tapped or dispensed, the seconddisplay device 303 lights up blue, for example, and the first displaydevice 301 flashes green. If very hot water is tapped or dispensed, forexample, the second display device 303 lights up red and the firstdisplay device flashes green.

FIG. 4 shows a sanitary system according to one embodiment of thedisclosure and FIG. 5 shows a control device of the sanitary systemaccording to FIG. 4 in schematic form.

FIG. 4 shows in detail a sanitary system 200 comprising a sanitaryfitting 1 according to FIGS. 1-3 and a preparation device 201 and acontrol device 100. Specifically, a filter device 106 is arranged, whichis connected to a cold water line 21 b for the supply of cold water.Filtered water can then be provided by the filter device 106 via a line20 c, the control device 100, and via a line 20 which is connected tothe water outlet 7. This filtered water is conducted through a flow ratemeter 105 of the control device 100 and the through-flow quantity ismeasured. The control device 100 is configured to ascertain on the basisof the quantity of the measured flow rate when a filter cartridge of thefilter device 106 has to be replaced. A quantity control device 110,which comprises a plurality of valves 111, 113, is arranged downstreamof the flow rate meter 105. A high-pressure boiler 103 for very hotwater, which is connected to a heating device 107, is connected theretovia a supply line 20 b and a safety device 104. Very hot water can thenbe applied to the line 20 via a second line 20 a via the quantitycontrol device 110 and can be dispensed via the water outlet 7.

The control device 100 comprises an electronic controller 101 and isconnected via a signal line 130 to the two control elements 300, 302,the two display devices 301, 303, and to the actuating element 305 forcorresponding control or actuation thereof, respectively. The controldevice 100 is furthermore connected to a power supply 102 for itsoperation. Filtered water or very hot water can be dispensed via theline 20 via the water outlet 7. The hot water line 21 a and the coldwater line 21 b are connected via the first control element device 3 ausing the mixing tap to the first water outlet 5 and it can accordinglydispense mixed water having corresponding temperature via this.

FIG. 5 shows the control device 100 in detail. The control device 100comprises, in addition to the electronic controller 101, a displayscreen 120 in the form of a touch panel or the like, using which thecontrol device 100 can be programmed, for example, the correspondingtime spans for the provision of the hot water function after actuatingthe second actuating element 300, the setting of the filter capacity independence on the water hardness or the like. The safety device 104 isused to avoid an overpressure during heating in the hot water boiler103.

The control device 100 is furthermore configured so that a user, whenthis user selects a quantity of prepared water—this applies in generalfor any fluid or liquid—it is provided so that

the dispensed quantity of water corresponds to the selected quantity, atthe same time

in the dispensed quantity of water, a portion of non-prepared water ispresent in such a way that the degree of the preparation of the preparedwater corresponds to the selected degree and at the wateroutlet—identified here by reference sign 7—non-prepared water isprovided after dispensing of the set quantity.

In other words, the control device 100 is configured as follows, forexample: In the case of the type of preparation “carbonated water”having a degree of carbonization “2”, selected solely by way of example,the water is prepared having a degree of carbonization 2.2, i.e., havinga higher degree of carbonization than that set. If a quantity of 0.5 Lis not to be dispensed, carbonated water having degree “2.2” is providedin the quantity 416.6666 mL. This quantity is then firstly dispensed.Subsequently, the quantity 500 ml-416.666 ml=83.333 ml of non-preparedwater is dispensed as neutral liquid, i.e., having degree ofcarbonization “1”, so that on average 500 mL having a degree ofcarbonization “2” was dispensed. This makes additional flushing of theline with neutral liquid, for example, when adding fruit juiceconcentrate to non-prepared water or the like, unnecessary. Dribbling atthe outlet is thus avoided.

FIG. 6 shows a method for providing and dispensing prepared liquidaccording to one embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a method for providing and dispensing prepared water forbeverages using a sanitary fitting according to any one of claims 1 to15.

The method comprises the following stages in this case:

In a first stage S1, setting of a quantity of prepared liquid to bedispensed is performed by the first control element.

In a further stage S2 or S2′, providing or setting of at least one typeof preparation from at least two different types of preparation ofnon-prepared liquid is performed by the second control element.

In a further stage S3, actuating of the actuating element is performed.

In a further stage S4, dispensing of prepared liquid and a neutralliquid is performed, for example, non-prepared liquid, for examplewater, in such a way that before reaching the cycle quantity,exclusively neutral liquid is provided for dispensing and is dispensed,and upon reaching the set quantity, the dispensing is stopped.

FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional detail of the sanitary fittingaccording to a further embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a sanitary fitting 1 according to FIG. 2. In contrast tothe sanitary fitting 1 according to FIG. 2, the sanitary fitting 1according to FIG. 7 comprises a second control element 302, using whichthe degree of carbonization of water to be dispensed can be set. Thesecond control element 302 can for this purpose provide, for example, indifferent detent positions P1, P2, P3, P4, the selection of adispensation of carbonated water having different degrees ofcarbonization. The detent positions P1-P4 differ in this case from thedetent positions P1-P4 of FIG. 3. Alternatively, it is also conceivableto arrange, for example, three or more control elements adjacent to oneanother or integrate them one inside another, for example, supplementingthe embodiment shown in FIG. 7 having the two control elements 300, 302with the axially displaceable control element 302 of the embodiment ofFIG. 2 and the display device 301, so that, from left to right in FIG.7, the following arrangement results: second control element 302 forsetting the degree of carbonization and simultaneously for setting veryhot water with integrated ring-shaped actuating element 305, wherein thevery hot water function can be triggered by axial displacement accordingto FIG. 2, display device 301, first control element 300 for setting thequantity, and the second display device 303 on the right adjacentthereto.

In summary, at least one of the embodiments of the disclosure comprisesat least one of the following advantages:

Only dispensing the requested quantity in the requested type ofpreparation.

Automatic stopping after the dispensing.

No dribbling at the sanitary fitting.

High flexibility.

Simple production and implementation.

Simple performance.

Reliable and flexible dispensing of prepared water.

Although the disclosure was described on the basis of exemplaryembodiments, it is not restricted thereto, but rather is modifiable inmanifold ways.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 sanitary fitting    -   2 fitting body    -   3 a, 3 b control element device    -   4 outlet arm    -   5 water outlet    -   6 holding arm    -   7 water outlet    -   8 single-lever mixing tap    -   20 a, 20 b, 20 c line    -   21 a hot water line    -   21 b cold water line    -   100 control device    -   101 electronic controller    -   102 power supply    -   103 high-pressure boiler    -   104 safety device    -   105 flow rate meter    -   106 filter device    -   107 heating device    -   110, 111, 113 valve    -   120 display screen    -   130 signal line    -   200 sanitary system    -   201 preparation device    -   300, 302 control element    -   301, 303 display device    -   304 circular surface    -   304′ triggering point    -   305 actuating element

1. A sanitary fitting configured to dispense prepared liquids includingbeverages, the sanitary fitting comprising: a first control elementconfigured to set a quantity of a prepared liquid to be dispensed and anactuating element configured to provide the quantity of prepared liquidset by the first control element; at least one second control element;and at least one display device, wherein the at least one second controlelement is configured to select a type of preparation from at least twodifferent types of preparations of non-prepared liquid, wherein thefirst and the at least one second control element are actuatableindependently of one another, wherein a first display device isconfigured to display at least two different types of preparation,and/or wherein a second display device is configured to display at leastone operating state of the sanitary fitting.
 2. The sanitary fitting asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one display device isconfigured to provide a visual display and/or an acoustic output signal,wherein the at least one display device and/or at least one of the firstor second control elements is configured to have a ring shape, and/orwherein the at least one display device is configured to provide atleast three visually different displays.
 3. The sanitary fitting asclaimed in claim 2, further comprising two display devices positionedalong an axial direction on different sides of the first controlelement.
 4. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein theactuating element is actuatable by touching and/or pressing, or isactuatable contactlessly, wherein, when operating in contactlessactuation mode, the actuating element is configured to recognizegestures.
 5. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising: a single lever mixing tap that is configured to dispensenon-prepared hot and cold water; and at least two separate outlets,wherein a first one of the at least two separate outlets is configuredto exclusively dispense the non-prepared hot and cold water, and whereina second one of the at least two separate outlets is configured todispense the prepared liquid, wherein the at least two outlets arearranged spaced apart from one another, and/or wherein at least one ofthe first and second outlets is movably configured, and includes adetachable locking device, the detachable locking device configured todetachably fix a position of the movable first or second outlet on anelement of the sanitary fitting.
 6. The sanitary fitting as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the first and second control elements are eachactuatable by an imposed rotational movement and the second controlelement is additionally actuatable by an imposed axial movement, andwherein the second control element has at least two detent positionsduring rotational movement.
 7. A sanitary system configured to dispenseprepared liquids including beverages, the sanitary system comprising: asanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1; a preparation device, which isconnected to the sanitary fitting, the preparation device configured toprovide a prepared liquid to the sanitary fitting; and a control deviceconnected to the sanitary fitting and to the preparation device, thecontrol device configured to control the sanitary fitting and thepreparation device.
 8. The sanitary system as claimed in claim 7,further comprising: a filter device; and a flow rate meter that isconfigured to measure a flow rate of the liquid, wherein the flow ratemeter is further configured to measure a flow rate of water through thefilter device, and/or wherein the control device is connected to theflow rate meter and is configured to compute a service life of a filtercomponent of the filter device based on a measured flow rate, andwherein the control device is configured to control the at least onedisplay device to display the computed service life.
 9. The sanitarysystem as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a storage device; afirst valve; and a second valve, wherein the filter device is connectedto the sanitary fitting via the first valve which is configured to becontrolled by the control device, and wherein the storage device isconnected to the sanitary fitting via the second valve which isconfigured to be controlled by the control device.
 10. The sanitarysystem as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control device is configuredto control the sanitary system to dispense a set quantity of a liquidincluding a prepared liquid and a neutral liquid in a selected type ofpreparation, by performing operations including: setting, by the firstcontrol element of the sanitary fitting, a quantity of prepared liquidto be dispensed; providing or setting, by the at least one secondcontrol element of the sanitary fitting, at least one type ofpreparation, wherein the type of preparation is selected from at leasttwo different types of preparation of a non-prepared liquid; actuatingthe actuating element of the sanitary fitting; and dispensing a preparedliquid and a neutral liquid, by performing operations including:dispensing a first portion of prepared liquid; and dispensing a secondportion of a neutral liquid, such that before reaching the set quantity,exclusively neutral liquid is dispensed, and that the dispensing isstopped upon reaching the set quantity, wherein after completedispensing of the set quantity, prepared liquid has been dispensed inthe set quantity and type of preparation.
 11. A method of providing anddispensing a prepared liquid, including beverages, using a sanitaryfitting, the method comprising: setting, by a first control element ofthe sanitary fitting, a quantity of prepared liquid to be dispensed;providing or setting, by at least one second control element of thesanitary fitting, at least one type of preparation, wherein the type ofpreparation is selected from at least two different types of preparationof a non-prepared liquid; actuating an actuating element of the sanitaryfitting; and dispensing a prepared liquid and a neutral liquid, byperforming operations including: dispensing a first portion of preparedliquid; and dispensing a second portion of a neutral liquid, such thatbefore reaching the set quantity, exclusively neutral liquid isdispensed, and that the dispensing is stopped upon reaching the setquantity, wherein after complete dispensing of the set quantity,prepared liquid has been dispensed in the set quantity and type ofpreparation.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:further actuating the actuating element; and interrupting or stoppingdispensing of the liquid in response to actuation of the actuatingelement during the dispensing of the prepared liquid, wherein theprepared liquid includes one or more of hot water, filtered water,carbonated water, cold water, and water mixed with concentrate.
 13. Themethod as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: selecting a type ofpreparation by rotating and axially moving the at least one secondcontrol element from an axial idle position against a restoring force,wherein after selection of at least one type of preparation, the atleast one second control element is configured to return to the axialidle position.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 13, furthercomprising: displaying an indication that a type of preparation is “veryhot water” on a display device of the sanitary fitting.
 15. A controldevice for a sanitary fitting, the control device configured to transmitat least one signal for dispensing a set quantity of liquid in aselected type of preparation to the sanitary fitting, to thereby controlthe sanitary fitting to perform operations comprising: setting, by afirst control element of the sanitary fitting, a quantity of preparedliquid to be dispensed; providing or setting, by at least one secondcontrol element of the sanitary fitting, at least one type ofpreparation, wherein the type of preparation is selected from at leasttwo different types of preparation of a non-prepared liquid; actuatingan actuating element of the sanitary fitting; and dispensing a preparedliquid and a neutral liquid, by performing operations including:dispensing a first portion of prepared liquid; and dispensing a secondportion of a neutral liquid, such that before reaching the set quantity,exclusively neutral liquid is dispensed, and that the dispensing isstopped upon reaching the set quantity.
 16. The sanitary fitting asclaimed in claim 4, wherein actuating element further comprises acircular surface having an actuation point.
 17. The sanitary fitting asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the detachable locking device operates via amagnetic force.
 18. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe second control element has four defined detent positions during arotational movement, and/or wherein the sanitary fitting furthercomprises multiple second control elements that are actuatableindependently of one another.
 19. The sanitary system as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the preparation device comprises at least one of afilter device, a heating device, a storage device, a concentrationdevice, a carbonization device, and a cooling device.
 20. The sanitarysystem as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first andsecond valves includes a solenoid valve.
 21. The method as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the at least one second control element is configuredto return to the axial idle position by a spring force.
 22. The methodof claim 11, wherein the prepared liquid is dispensed for a settabletime span after actuating the actuating element.